To Be a
Teacher Today…
“Instead
of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is
observed as Teachers’ Day.” He gave this suggestion to his students who
insisted on celebrating his birthday. Hence, since 1962, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s
birthday has since been celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India.
As we
celebrate the Teachers’ Day today, it is also an apt occasion to introspect and
see what the important tasks of teachers are today in the 21 Century. Reminding
ourselves what Swami Vivekanada said, “The Guru is the conveyance in which the
spiritual influence is brought to you. Anyone can teach, but the spirit must be
passed on by the Guru to the Shishya (disciple), and that will fructify.”
The
dominant approach to compulsory education under Right to Education Act of 2009
entails a transformative and reformative move in the 21st century. The
important task of teachers therefore has been always shaping the minds of the
younger generation. ‘Shaping the younger minds’ is coupled with a great task of
instilling in students a scientific and humanistic attitude and temper.
Consequently the teachers’ role in the 21st century is that of self-disciplined
than merely an instructor. The young
minds find thus an inspiring person in his/her teacher.
Having
involved myself in teaching in schools and colleges I have realized that
teaching the syllabus is the easiest thing that a teacher can do. The greatest
challenge today for teachers is to convince the wards in their care with certain
values, making them fit to enter the great society and become great citizens.
Children spend their precious time of childhood in the school. Therefore the
noble task is to make the children instruments to develop an integrated nation
out of our diversity. At this era of ideologies which entrench the minds of
young, the duty of teachers becomes more demanding than ever.
One day
in a classroom I asked my students to imagine themselves ten years from 2018. I
left them in a quiet situation for about five minutes. The sharing that followed
reminded me of my duties as their teacher. It is obvious that the students of
today will be shouldering national responsibilities ten years from now. It is
therefore our duty to give them a sense of national loyalty and responsibility.
Diverse ideas of modern India have left the younger minds today to grow in the
negativity that weakens them. Eliminating such ideas and strengthening them
with what is good is the task of the teachers today. In this regard a teacher
becomes not only an educator but a mentor and a guide, as Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan says, “The end-product of education should be a free creative
man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of
nature.”
Hats off
to all the teachers for being epitome of knowledge and contributing immensely
in building a great nation. You are,
Talented
person
Explaining so
patiently
Ability to
make the class an ocean of knowledge
Correcting
the pupils when they are wrong
Helping them
in every way
Encouraging
them to give the best
Rare, there
is none like you!
Happy Teachers’ Day
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